Method and system for dynamic parking selection, transaction, management and data provision

ABSTRACT

A parking garage system includes a plurality of parking garages. Each parking garage has a plurality of parking sectors and each parking sector has a plurality of parking spaces. A digital system tracks an occupancy level of each parking sector and an anticipated departure time of vehicles parked in each parking space. The digital system further directs vehicles to a particular parking sector based on the driver&#39;s anticipated departure time. The digital system also advises potential customers of occupancy level and parking rates and communicates information regarding occupancy level and parking rates to other parking garages.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 15/247,459 filed Aug. 25, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional No. 62/210,055, filed Aug. 26, 2015, which is incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed is an operational and analytical system for garages pairedwith a consumer-facing mobile device and computer implemented system andmethod for initiating and completing the processing of a transaction forone or multiple parking sessions. Garages conduct their full parkingoperation in a cloud-based automated system of executing and managingparking transactions, including rate determination, dynamic vehicle spotassignments and task management. The fully integrated system transmitsupdated pricing and availability information from garages to users, anduser parking information to garages. The consumer, in real time,searches for, selects, reserves and pays for parking spots usingunderlying algorithms and data to facilitate the process. The underlyingalgorithms allow for a garage selection based on location, pricing andreal-time availability using a three click system. The method comprisesstoring an identifier for each user/vehicle combination, andtransmitting that identifier to a network server. The method furthercomprises an integrated platform for parking garages to gather real timeinformation on demand and capacity as an operations and businessstrategy tool for garage management. The method further comprises usingintegrated targeted advertising to enable businesses to disseminateinformation to users.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Transparency of price and availability for parking, particularly offstreet parking, has been a challenge for Users given the off-line natureof parking rates and inventory. Parking transactions remain inefficient.The general lack of real-time connection to parking company operationalsystems makes information outdated and inaccurate, even with the adventof recent User-facing parking applications. Besides not being able toeasily determine prices before selecting a parking spot, once parked,Users have virtually no direct visibility into what their final costwill be—if they pick up their car early, stay later, etc.

There have been attempts to automate parking facility management. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,727, “Fully Optimized Automatic ParkingFacility Management,” to Mahmmod discloses an automated parking facilitymanagement system that determines when a vehicle is at a facilityentrance, stores the locations of vacated facility parking spots anddetermines the locations of desirable vacated parking spots. However,for the most part, parking companies generally manage their businesseswith antiquated systems and limited data such that they are unable tooptimize the demand, inventory and pricing equation. Currently, neitherthe parking companies nor the User benefit from this inefficiency.Parking companies cannot effectively adjust pricing in real-time tooptimize revenue, and Users cannot be presented with real time offers tostimulate demand. U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,727 is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

Lastly, targeted advertising is highly ineffective given lack of trueunderstanding of intended User behavior.

In short, there is a lack of accurate data and information in theparking industry, for all actors, even with the advent of recentUser-facing garage Applications.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a parking garage system that includes a plurality ofparking garages. Each parking garage has a plurality of parking sectorsand each parking sector has a plurality of parking spaces. A digitalsystem tracks an occupancy level of each parking sector and ananticipated departure time of vehicles parked in each parking space. Thedigital system further directs vehicles to a particular parking sectorbased on the driver's anticipated departure time. The digital systemalso advises potential customers of occupancy level and parking ratesand communicates information regarding occupancy level and parking ratesto other parking garages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts one floor of a parking garage as disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 depicts an entrance to the parking garage as disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart depiction of functions involved with parking avehicle at the parking garage

FIG. 4 is a flow chart depiction illustrating the opening of a digitalapplication for a user to access the digital system disclosed herein

FIG. 5 is a flow chart depiction illustrating a user logging in to thedigital system disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart depiction illustrating a user setting up anaccount in the digital system disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart depiction illustrating a user changing accountsettings in the account of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 depicts a city street grid to illustrate how the system describedherein directs a user to a parking garage.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart depiction illustrating how the system directs auser to a parking garage as illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart depiction illustrating how, when the userselects a garage to make a reservation, information is transmitteddirectly to the garage system

FIGS. 11A-11D are a flow chart depiction illustrating a reservationprocess.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart depiction illustrating a check-in process.

FIGS. 13A-13D are a flow chart depiction illustrating a check-outprocess.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart depiction illustrating designation of a favoritegarage in accordance with an alternative embodiment herein.

FIG. 15 illustrates a beacon device in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts one floor 10 of a commercial parking garage, recognizingthat most commercial parking garages have multiple floors connected byramps and/or elevators. There are one or more entrances/exits 12, 14providing access between the garage and adjacent city streets, if on theground floor or providing access to ramps if on a floor above or belowground level. The floor 10 is divided into a plurality of parkingsectors (A-P in FIG. 1) that each contain a plurality of parking spaces.Internal roadways 16 enable vehicles being parked to be driven to adesired parking sector. One factor customers consider when selecting aparking garage is efficiency in delivering a car when the customer isready to leave. The higher the efficiency, the more likely a customer isto return to that garage. Accordingly, cars belonging to customersexpected to request their car soon are parked close to a garageentrance/exit 12/14, for example, in sector E or F. Cars expected toremain in the garage for a more extended period of time are parked insectors more remote from the garage entrance/exit, for example, insector C or N. During the business day, cars are moved between sectorsin anticipation of customer demand to increase garage efficiency.

FIG. 2 depicts a garage entrance/exit 12 with access 18 to a citystreet. Typical features associated with the entrance/exit 12 are apivoting gate 20 to control the ingress and egress of vehicles, a camera22 to record the entrance and exit of vehicles and to document damage tothe body of those vehicles, a detector 24 such as a bar code scanner ora radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner that identifies carsentering or leaving the garage, and a display board 26 that providesinformation to potential customers, such as price and availability ofparking spaces.

Alternatively, detector 24 can be a beacon device which emits a signalto the phone application, letting the application know that the customeris in that particular garage, passing the garage information to theapplication to allow it to check-in/out the customer. Other garages maybe “open” lots, either allowing self-paring or requiring an attendant totake the car at the entrance and park it within the facility. A server28, typically located elsewhere in the garage, such as in an office,communicates with the features and with other garages to enhance parkingefficiency. Communication is via a digital network and may include wiredor wireless communication as known in the art.

In accordance with the invention, the beacon may emit a unique, one waysignal. The one way signal may be transmitted via any suitable form,such as Bluetooth, near field communication, or RFID. In one embodiment,the mobile application detects a strength of the signal emitted from thebeacon. Upon detecting that the signal strength has satisfied apredetermined signal strength threshold, an indication is provided thatthe user, and the associated mobile application, are within a desiredrange of the beacon.

The beacon may further include in the signal transmission anidentification signal that identifies a specified parking garageassociated with the specific beacon. In accordance with this feature, auser may access the mobile application via their device, and the mobileapplication may identify the entered garage. This allows the check-in,check-out and payment functions for the specific garage to be enabled.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, detector 24 may be one or more of beacons1502 a, 1502 b, and 1502 c, which may transmit signals to a device, suchas mobile device 1504. Beacons 1502 a, 1502 b, and 1502 c may be locatedwithin a parking garage. Some or all of the beacons may be locatedinternal to the parking and/or external to the garage, such as at anentrance. One or more of the beacons may also, or alternatively,transmit a signal directly to an offsite server, such as server 1506.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart depiction of functions involved with parking avehicle at the garage described herein. The functions are described inmore detail below. To enable a customer to digitally interact with thegarage, a digital account 9.0 is created. A customer having such adigital account 9.0 is referred to herein as a “ParcMate Customer” whilea customer lacking such a digital account is referred to herein as a“Non-ParcMate Customer.” Information about a customer is containedwithin Account & Settings and provides information about the customersuch as preferences and payment information to expedite the parkingprocess.

Finding a garage 3.0 is based on a number of curated options, includingbest, closest and cheapest. As described below, global positioning isemployed with the customer's intended destination and preferences toselect the garage best suited for that customer. ParcMate Customers mayreserve a spot 4.0 prior to arrival and take care of most check-in 5.0upon arrival and most of check-out 6.0 upon departure.

By utilizing global positioning-based tracking, the inventiveapplication can determine the precise location of the user. Theapplication determines the user's GPS location, accesses a database ofgarages, calculates a distance of user location from garages, based onstored latitude and longitude. Additionally, the Haversine formula maybe used to determine precise location. The components of the Haversineformula are incorporated herein by reference.

Additionally, the application may sort garage order based on distancefrom user. In an example, the application may select the closestpredetermined number of garages, such as three or five garages, or anyother suitable number, and then select the cheapest garage from withinthe selected closest group of garages. Therefore, the best garage may beselected via a second algorithm that identifies the cheapest garagewithin a subset of garages that are within the closest range to theuser's current location.

The best garage may also be selected based on additional configurablesubsets of parameters, such as user ratings, coupon availability,operational efficiency, greatest number of vacant spots, and any othersuitable parameters. The user may also manually search for garages nearan alternative target location entered into a search bar.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate how a customer logs onto the parking garage digitaldata system. As shown in FIG. 6, a user account 1.6.1 is created thatincludes identification of the user vehicle and payment information1.6.3 and the user preferences in an accounts and settings page 1.6.12and FIG. 7.

The user-facing ParcMate application provides parking search, selectionand transaction capabilities, as well as a real-time window into theirparking engagement. Users may reserve and transact both transient(hourly/daily) and monthly parking in an application. A direct digitalconnection to parking company pricing and inventory allows the system toprovide a “Lowest Rate Guarantee” (i.e. pricing will not be loweranywhere else for a selected garage). With reference again to FIG. 2, asupdated pricing and inventory data is transmitted to server 28, relevantinformation (for example, “Lot Full”) is communicated with display board26 for display to potential customers. Inventory may include atransmission, such as an email, that a lot is full, at which point thelot availability is removed from a garage database for a specifiedperiod of time, such as a start and end time. Inventory data can betransmitted including that garage prior to the unavailable time (suchas, for example, 6:00 PM), and after the unavailable time (such as, forexample, 10:00 PM). If a user requests a stay that includes bothavailable and unavailable time, the garage will be excluded from theinventory data. Alternatively, lot information, such as a full lot, maybe communicated to a User's device. Display board 26 may also be used tobalance demand between a plurality of garages. The displayed price maybe lowered to increase demand or the displayed price may be increased toreduce demand. The lot status, such as “Lot Full” or “Lot Unavailable”could also be displayed on the user's device.

Demand-based pricing may be adjusted by quantifying real-time garageavailability and historical garage demand patterns, and utilizingrevenue management techniques to determine optimal pricing. Thus,historical price and demand information is analyzed and matched tofuture periods of time based on common elements, such as days of week,time of day, recurring events, or any other suitable elements, for aspecific garage or group of like garages. This may be utilized toforecast optimal realistic occupancy and revenue, and then set anecessary rate to meet the occupancy and revenue goals. If real-timedemand for a specific garage fluctuates from expected optimal occupancyor revenue rates, the invention is adapted to adjust rates dynamically,by re-optimizing occupancy and revenue based on the altered demandconditions.

Users will register vehicle information (one or many), credit cardpayment information and default tip amount (dollar amount or percentageof transaction), and any promotional rate codes they are eligible for,in the app. They can select a primary and secondary credit card paymentoptions. The primary card will be used to automatically charge theuser's ParcMate parking transactions. ParcMate will be the merchant ofrecord for the ParcMate transactions.

Upon registering, users may have a single, perpetual, machine-readableidentifier, such as a barcode or a quick response (QR) code, for each oftheir registered vehicles (combining vehicle information with userinformation), which can be used each time they visit a garage in theParcMate network. With this identifier, unreserved parking transactionscan be completed in a single click (click “check-in” and view barcode toscan); the full search and reserve process can be completed in justthree clicks (click “find a garage”, select a garage with defaultparking duration, confirm).

The following illustrates an exemplary use of completing the search andreserve process in three-clicks: Upon entering the “Find a Garage”section of the application, based on user geographic location, orentered location, the user is presented with a selection of garagesbased on longitude and latitude of the garages relative to the location,and the user can further select from the curated options ofclosest/cheapest/best (see below) or other garage options, and click toreserve.

In accordance with the invention, curating of options may includedisplaying small batches of options based on increasing distance from auser or target location, or based on a stored or enteredlatitude/longitude of each garage location. In one embodiment, best,closest or cheapest options are displayed on a dynamic mappingarrangement, as well as on tiles below the map. A user may swipe tilesto the left, or in any other suitable direction, which may cause theapplication to display new options on the map and replace the previouslydisplayed options. Each swipe may be configured to replace previousoptions and display new ones.

An exemplary curation sequence includes:

 1 package com.spaces.bo;  2  3 import com.spaces.App;  4 importcom.spaces.core.cache.Cache;  5 importcom.spaces.core.services.ServiceContext;  6 importcom.spaces.core.util.Config;  7 import com.spaces.dao.*;  8 importcom.spaces.domain.*;  9 importorg.apache.commons.configuration.Configuration;  10 importorg.slf4j.Logger;  11 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;  12  13 importjava.util.*;  14  15 /**  16  * Created by Ben on 1/25/2016.  17  */  18public class GarageSearch extends Cache<Garage> {  19 private staticfinal Logger Log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(GarageCache.class);  20  21private GarageRateBO rateBO = new GarageRateBO( );  22  23 privatestatic Configuration config = Config.getConfig(“spaces.properties”);  24 25 private final double bestRange = config.getDouble(“BEST_RANGE”);  26private final double othersRange = config.getDouble(“OTHERS_RANGE”);  27private final int MAX_SEARCH_RESULTS =config.getInt(“MAX_SEARCH_RESULTS”, 40);  28  29 private static finalString GARAGE_SEARCH_TRACE_USERS =config.getString(“GARAGE_SEARCH_TRACE_USERS”, “:7:9:11:”);  30  31private static final boolean GARAGE_SEARCH_FORCE_TRACE =config.getBoolean(“GARAGE_SEARCH_FORCE_TRACE”, false);  32  33 privateMap<Integer, GarageRateStructure> rateCache = new HashMap<Integer,GarageRateStructure>( );  34  35 public GarageSearch( ) {  36super(Garage.class);  37 super.setLoader(App.getBean(GarageDAO.class)); 38 }  39  40 public List<GarageSearchResult> getGarages(double lat,double lng) {  41 GarageSearchRequest req = new GarageSearchRequest( ); 42 req.setLat(lat);  43 req.setLng(lng);  44 long now =System.currentTimeMillis( );  45 req.setEstimatedArrival(new Date(now)); 46 req.setEstimatedDeparture(new Date(now + 60 * 60 * 1000));  47return getGarages(req);  48 }  49  50 /**  51  * Get the list of garagessorted closest to farthest to the specified location  52  * <p>  53  *Perform filtering logic on the list based on search parameters (coveredparking, open 24 hours etc)  54  * Perform logic around garage hours (is the garage open or not)  55  * Return the cheapest rate basd on therate structure/rate table for the garage and the estimatedarrival/departure  56  *  57  * @return  58  */  59 publicList<GarageSearchResult> getGarages(GarageSearchRequest request) {  60GarageSearchResult best = null;  61 GarageSearchResult closest = null; 62 GarageSearchResult cheapest = null;  63 boolean couponAdded = false; 64  65 int userId = ServiceContext.getContext( ).getSession().getUserId( );  66 Log.debug(“Excecuting search for user [{ }]”,userId);  67  68 List<GarageSearchResult> results = newArrayList<GarageSearchResult>( );  69 for (Garage g : super.getItems( )){  70  71 double distance = 0;  72 if (matches(userId, g, request)) { 73  74 distance = DistanceUtil.distFrom(request.getLat( ),request.getLng( ), g.getLatitude( ), g.getLongitude( ));  75 // Must bewithin ½ a mile  76 if (distance <= othersRange) {  77GarageRateStructure rateStructure = rateCache.get(g.getGarageId( ));  78RateEstimate estimate = rateBO.getCheapestRate(request, rateStructure); 79  80 if (estimate != null && (request.getMaxRate( ) < 0 ||estimate.getAdjustedRate( ) <= request.getMaxRate( ))) {  81GarageSearchResult result = new GarageSearchResult(g);  82  83 // Needsto be a coupon rate, and needs to be not logged in user...  84 if(estimate.isCoupon( ) && !couponAdded && userId < 0) {  85ServiceContext.getContext( ).addMessage(“FND-090”);  86 couponAdded =true;  87 }  88  89 result.setDistance(distance);  90result.setEstimatedCost(estimate.getAdjustedRate( ));  91result.setCoupon(estimate.isCoupon( ));  92 results.add(result);  93  94if (result.getDistance( ) <= bestRange) {  95 if (best == null ||result.getEstimatedCost( ) <= best.getEstimatedCost( )) {  96 // handleties  97 if(best != null && result.getEstimatedCost( ) ==best.getEstimatedCost( )) {  98 Log.info(“found tie: best... garage 1 {} garage 2 { }”, best.getGarage( ).getGarageId( ), result.getGarage().getGarageId( ));  99 if (result.getDistance( ) < best.getDistance( )){ 100 // take this one its same price but even closer! 101 best =result; 102 } 103 } else { 104 // new best 105 best = result; 106 } 107} 108 } 109 110 if (closest == null || result.getDistance( ) <=closest.getDistance( )) { 111 // i dont think this is technicallypossible, but wtf... 112 if (closest != null && result.getDistance( ) ==closest.getDistance( )) { 113 Log.info(“found tie: closest... amazinggarage 1 { } garage 2 { }”, closest.getGarage( ).getGarageId( ),result.getGarage( ).getGarageId( )); 114 if (result.getEstimatedCost( )< closest.getEstimatedCost( )) { 115 // take this one its same distancebut even cheaper! 116 closest = result; 117 } 118 } else { 119 closest =result; 120 } 121 } 122 if (cheapest == null || result.getEstimatedCost() <= cheapest.getEstimatedCost( )) { 123 if (cheapest != null &&result.getEstimatedCost( ) == cheapest.getEstimatedCost( )) { 124Log.info(“found tie: cheapest... garage 1 { } garage 2 { }”,cheapest.getGarage( ).getGarageId( ), result.getGarage( ).getGarageId()); 125 if (result.getDistance( ) < cheapest.getDistance( )) { 126 //take this one its same price but even closer! 127 cheapest = result; 128} 129 } else { 130 cheapest = result; 131 } 132 } 133 } else { 134 } 135} else { 136 } 137 } else { 138 // missed initial filter 139 } 140 } 141142 // remove the B/C/C from the list 143 results.remove(best); 144results.remove(closest); 145 results.remove(cheapest); 146 147 // Orderhere matters 148 if(best != null) { 149 best.addFlag(“best”); 150 } 151152 if(closest != null) { 153 closest.addFlag(“closest”); 154 } 155 156if (cheapest != null) { 157 if (best == null) { 158cheapest.addFlag(“best”); 159 best = cheapest; 160 } 161cheapest.addFlag(“cheapest”); 162 } 163 164 Collections.sort(results,new Comparator<GarageSearchResult>( ) { 165 @Override 166 public intcompare(GarageSearchResult o1, GarageSearchResult o2) { 167 returnDouble.compare(o1.getDistance( ), o2.getDistance( )); 168 } 169 }); 170171 // We only want 40ish... 172 int max = MAX_SEARCH_RESULTS; 173 if(results.size( ) < MAX_SEARCH_RESULTS) { 174 max = results.size( ); 175} 176 177 List<GarageSearchResult> realResults = results.subList(0,max); 178 if (cheapest != null) { 179 realResults.add(0, cheapest); 180} 181 182 if (closest != null) { 183 // wasnt already added 184 if(realResults.indexOf(closest) < 0) { 185 realResults.add(0, closest);186 } 187 } 188 189 if (best != null) { 190 // wasnt already added. 191if (realResults.indexOf(best) < 0) { 192 realResults.add(0, best); 193 }else { 194 // hack move it to the front 195 realResults.remove(best);196 realResults.add(0, best); 197 } 198 } 199 200 return realResults;201 } 202 203 private boolean matches(int userId, Garage garage,GarageSearchRequest searchRequest) { 204 if (searchRequest.isReturnAll()) { 205 if (garage.getStatus( ) != Garage.Status.Active &&garage.getStatus( ) != Garage.Status.SoftActive) { 206 return false; 207} 208 } else { 209 if(garage.getStatus( ) != Garage.Status.Active) { 210return false; 211 } 212 } 213 214 if (searchRequest.isOversizedVehicle() && !garage.isAcceptOvesized( )) { 215 return false; 216 } 217 if(searchRequest.isMustAcceptCreditCards( ) && !garage.isAcceptCc( )) {218 return false; 219 } 220 if (searchRequest.isOpen24Hours( ) &&!garage.isOpen24Hours( )) { 221 return false; 222 } 223 if(searchRequest.isOnlyCoveredParking( ) && !garage.isCoveredParking( )) {224 return false; 225 } 226 227 // Must be open on the arrival time anddeparture time!? 228 if(!garage.isOpen(searchRequest.getEstimatedArrival( ))) { 229 returnfalse; 230 } 231 if (!garage.isOpen(searchRequest.getEstimatedDeparture())) { 232 return false; 233 } 234 return true; 235 } 236 }

Additionally, all garages may be displayed in aggregate on the map,without geographic constraints. User-implemented filters, such as pricemaximum, indoor/outdoor, or any other suitable filters matched to userinputs with garage data stored in the database may be utilized toinclude or exclude garages. Garages may be further arranged on the mapin concentric circles that increase in diameter based on the distancefrom the user's location.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,834,778, “Parking Space Locator,” to Browne et al.discloses a method to identify available parking spots by obtaining ageographic indicator available for an available parking space and ageographic indicator for a parking space requestor and then match anavailable spot with a requestor in geographic proximity. U.S. Pat. No.7,834,778 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

With reference to FIG. 8, users can search for garages in the ParcMateapplication based on current location, other location or point ofinterest, indicating a desired arrival time and a parking duration. Theapplication returns a curated list of Best, Closest, Cheapest optionswith available spots per our proprietary algorithm. User has the abilityto see additional garage options if desired. FIG. 8 illustrates astylized street grid having north/south traveling avenues 30 andeast/west traveling streets 32. A user 34 seeks parking to attend adestination 36. The user's location is dynamically tracked using aglobal positioning system. The coordinates of the destination 36 aresimilarly quantified. Also located in the database are the locations ofparking garages 38A-38G. The parking garages are in continuouscommunication with the central server and provide continuous orperiodically updated batch data as to parking spaces available andcurrent rates. The user then selects a preference from the curated listand the best fit garage having spaces available is identified:

Best—lowest price within a small, such as 0.25 mile, or any othersuitable distance, radius 40 of the destination. Garages 38B, 38C and38D satisfy the geographic restriction. The system will select the onegarage from those three having the lowest price and an available spotand direct the user 34 to that garage. Best can be further influenced byconsumer-driven ratings of garages which have been stored in the systemand continue to be updated based on ParcMate user feedback.

Closest—geographically closest to the destination without consideringprice. The system will direct the user to garage 38C provided there arespaces available and to 38B if spaces are not available in the closestgarage.

Cheapest—rather than restrict the search to a small radius 40, a largersearch area, such as a 1 mile radius in any direction is considered andthe user 34 is directed to the garage from the larger population of38A-38G having the lowest price.

All garage options may be presented with a rating score based onParcMate user feedback from experiences with each garage. Ratings aregathered at check-out via a simple, automated process within the finalreceipt screen shown on the user's device, where user can provide arating score, and additional written feedback. The system stores allratings and feedback for each garage and dynamically updates thepresented user rating score for each garage as it averages in, in realtime, any new user ratings for that garage. User comments can also bedisplayed to other users in the ParcMate application.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart depiction illustrating how the system directs auser to a parking garage. Step 3.3 sets the coordinates of thedestination and step 3.4 identifies the garages within the predefinedgeographical boundaries. Rates for the identified garages are obtainedat 3.10 and the system identifies the curated choices of “best,”“closest” and cheapest” at 3.11. The user may then select from thecurated choices at step 3.17 or ask for additional options. As shown inFIG. 10, when the user selects a garage to make a reservation; the user,vehicle, parking details and reserved rate is transmitted directly toParcMate's companion garage system. While FIG. 11 illustrates thereservation process.

The following illustrates an exemplary use of the combination ofcoordinates and prices to direct the user to the best, closest orcheapest garage per user's selection: The system begins with a broadrange of possible garages and narrows that selection based on aconfigurable maximum distance from the user's location or desiredlocation as entered into the application, presenting garage optionsbased on any individual or combined, configurable distance requirement,rate requirement and rating requirement. Users can further curate thelist by selecting filters to remove any options not conforming withstated requirements (for example maximum rate, form of payment, type ofstructure (indoor/outdoor), attended vs. self-serve, etc.). If user isnot pleased with the results, geographic constraints can be removed byasking to see more garages a further distance away from the targetlocation.

Users can further request other services from the application as part ofa reservation, or after their car is parked (to have their car ready tobe picked up from the garage at a specific hour, to have the car washed,fueled up, cleaned, have parking time extended, etc). That informationis transmitted to the companion garage platform, and the user receives aconfirmation, rejection and/or explanation relating to the requestedadditional service.

Referring now to FIG. 12, upon arrival in a ParcMate garage, if ParcMateuser has made a reservation, garage scans the user's bar code or QR codefor the vehicle they are driving 5.3, bringing up complete reservationinformation (duration, price, vehicle information, license plate, username) and spot allocation information in the companion garage platform,GarageMate. This is all the information that the garage needs for thisscenario. With a single click confirming the information, the user ischecked in, and they can leave. The application creates a unique barcode/QR code for every user/vehicle combination, containing key dataabout the user and the vehicle that has been retained in the system froma profile created by the user that can be used every time the userchecks in or out of a garage in the ParcMate system.

If a ParcMate user has not made a reservation, they can still enter agarage in the ParcMate garage network, and with just a single click inthe application, scan their barcode or QR code. Vehicle, license anduser information then dynamically populate the GarageMate system. Garageattendant only needs to ask for the estimated duration of the stay, andthe ParcMate user is given the applicable rate, with any discount theyare eligible for, considered automatically in the rate calculation. Theinformation is confirmed, the user is checked in, and can leave.

While their car is parked, within the ParcMate application, in the “mytab” screen, user can view real-time cost of their parking stay throughthat moment in time, and see at what points in time in the futureparking cost will rise and to what specific dollar amount. Users canalso extend their stay from the application.

With reference to FIG. 13, upon returning to the garage to retrievetheir car, the ParcMate user scans their barcode 6.10 with the garageattendant into the GarageMate system, final amount is confirmed 6.13,final car location within the garage is shown 6.12, guest is checkedout, car is retrieved, ParcMate user instantly sees the receipt in theirParcMate application, the final parking cost, and the default tip amount(per their registration profile), which can be changed. User eitherconfirms final total amount and primary credit card in registrationprofile is charged, or after 15 minutes or other configurable amount oftime without further action, final amount is charged to primary creditcard on file.

Alternatively, upon entering a garage, a beacon device emits a signal tothe phone application letting the application know that the customer isin that particular garage, passing the garage information to theapplication to allow it to check-in/out the customer. When the customerchecks-in, the stored vehicle information (along with user details) forany selected vehicle within the user profile can be automatically passedvia an API to the garage's existing point of sale system. Theapplication can then pull back from the garage system the garage systemticket number, which is stored electronically within the phone, andgenerating a check-in time. Estimated cost of stay is provided to thedriver based on a full rate structure obtained by ParcMate from thegarages, and includes all standard rates, specials, coupons andspecially negotiated rates for monthly and transient customers. Couponrates are handled electronically, and do not require drivers to manuallydisplay a code or a printed coupon to qualify. While parked, thecustomer can view in real time what the current cost of parking is, aswell as any possible upcoming rate changes through time, synthesizingall rates/specials/coupons to show the lowest applicable rate for anyparticular time period. When not in range of the beacon (away from thegarage) the driver cannot check out. Upon returning to the garage, whenin range of the beacon, the customer can check-out via a click in theapplication, and complete final payment. The payment amount iscalculated from rates stored in the ParkMate system, but verifiedagainst the garage rates stored in the garage point-of-sale system, viaan API and based on check-in and check-out times. If there is adiscrepancy, the system defaults to the garage system rate for check-outand final payment. The garage system is notified of a completed finalpayment for that driver/ticket number via the API, resulting in theticket showing paid and closed out in the garage system, generating apaid receipt for the garage attendant, and causing the attendant toretrieve the driver's car.

In the event the user does not check-in with the application at thegarage, the user can scan the garage-issued parking ticket/claim checkinto the application, to view in real time what the current cost ofparking is, as well as any possible upcoming rate changes through time,synthesizing all rates/specials/coupons to show the lowest applicablerate for any particular time period. They will also be able to check-outand pay via the application.

Stays for the ParcMate user can be commissionable to ParcMate on anautomated basis; however, the application allows for a variable(reduced) commission rate based on the frequency and volume of stays fora user at any one ParcMate garage.

The application will track and allow redemption of parking rewardcredits, based on previous parking stays consumed in the application.

The application allows for tracking, monitoring and usage of promotionaloffers unique to the user. The user can see at any point, in real time,promotional offers they have qualified for, through registration,referral or referring, or usage of an offered referred to anotherindividual, and when those offers have been used. If they have qualifiedfor multiples of any one offer, the application keeps track of used andremaining. The application retains and can display details of any offer(when/how earned and redeemed), allows the user to select if aparticular promotion is redeemed for a parking stay, and dynamicallyupdates final pricing for consumer based on value of the promotion.Stored rules of the promotion determine whether users qualify forearning and/or redeeming any given offer. The back-end system canattribute the cost of the promotion to ParcMate, or the garage, or anysplit between the two, such that any amount attributed to ParcMate doesnot decrement the full amount due to the garage from ParcMate for thestay, even if the user has paid a lesser amount due to the promotion.Similarly, commission is calculated based on the full amount due to thegarage, regardless of the promotional discount attributed to ParcMate.

The application allows for a method for selecting a “Universal Park”option across a set of affiliated garages in the integrated garagesystem. This option allows user to select a product of unlimited parkingwithin a subset of garages and/or days or dayparts for a specifiedperiod of time for a designated cost. That option is tied to the userprofile so the parking transaction can be consumed as part of thatoption without being charged separately for the transaction.

The application allows for a “Vehicle Request Feature”, whereby the usercan request to have their car waiting for them upon return to thegarage/parking facility—at a particular time in the future (i.e. 4:45pm) or a certain time from the current time (i.e. 30 minutes from now).The cost for this service can vary by parking facility, time of day, andcustomer (i.e. monthly customers may be allowed to do so for free, orheavy ParcMate users reaching a certain status in the loyalty program).This feature can integrate into existing garage notification systems viaan API, or communication can be facilitated via a dedicated ParcMatedevice that displays upcoming vehicle ready requests for attendants.

The ParcMate application will serve up dynamic, targeted advertising,connecting advertisers with consumers based on any combination of thefollowing data within the system: search location, planned arrival time,planned departure time, user profile demographic information, vehicleinformation, parking behavior, to name a few.

The ParcMate ecosystem includes GarageMate, a cloud-based, efficient,streamlined point-of-sale system for garage locations and attendants forfacilitating inventory management and parking transactions. This systemwill be accessed through a portable tablet with scanner, printer, andcredit card reader, will interface with ParcMate in real time, and willconnect into current parking company financial systems. In the eventgarages use an alternative point-of-sale system, GarageMate informationcan flow electronically or manually into and out of their existingpoint-of-sale system and onto any connected financial systems.

GarageMate also allows for user reservations to be automaticallyassigned a specific spot inventory based on garage-specific algorithmsin the integrated garage system allowing garage attendants to easilyreassign spot assignments as needed and keep track of current carlocation within the parking facility.

For any ParcMate user and vehicle combination entering a garage andscanning a barcode, or leveraging beacon technology or RFID technology,or any other identification mechanism, with or without a reservation,GarageMate will check its database of reservations for an existingreservation at that garage within a configured broader timeframe. Withina more limited, configured timeframe, the reservation will beautomatically connected to that user at that time. If a reservationexists for that user/vehicle between the limited and broader timeframes,the garage attendant will be prompted to determine if this stay is forthat other reservation, to avoid double-booking of inventory. Thisentire process can be facilitated with GarageMate used by the garageattendant as an intermediary or via the ParcMate user directly, usingGarageMate as a “self-serve kiosk.” If there is no reservation, theParcMate user is checked in as a new user.

GarageMate has a fully integrated task management and notificationssystem, so attendants can be alerted to cars that need to be parked orretrieved for pending pick-up. Consumers utilizing the consumer side appcan automatically generate a task to pick up their car at a specifictime, or have ancillary services completed on their car (car wash,clean, add fuel, etc), configured specifically for each garage. Garageattendants have the ability to accept, reject, or reply regarding theconsumer task requests via a two-way communication system.

Garage attendants will use the system to manage transactions for everycustomer utilizing the garage (those using the consumer side app andwalk-ins without the app), from check-in to check-out and transactionpayment. Payment can be made via cash or credit card reader on portabletablet. Consumers registered in the consumer-side application will havepayment transacted through the app itself.

GarageMate will generate claim checks for non-consumer side applicationusers, which can be printed, e-mailed or texted. Consumer sideapplication users use their unique bar code (per user and vehicle) orany other unique identifier as retrieved from the system, in theapplication as their claim check, but can be printed, e-mailed or textedanother one by the garage through the garage system if needed.

The GarageMate tablet can take photographs of any arriving car via itsbuilt-in scanner (reference numeral 22 in FIG. 2), and those photographscan be stored with each car profile so proof of existing damage can beretained. Those photographs can be shared across garages.

The system also allows for a complete business intelligence system forparking company management, providing data analytics, tools anddashboards, and an easy to use inventory pricing system, across theparking company portfolio, via its GarageMate Pro component.

In particular, GarageMate Pro provides a proprietary analytics andreporting tool, providing data from the garage point of sale system suchthat management can have a complete 360 degree view of demand andinventory in real-time. Garage management can see trends, historical andcurrent, reflecting occupancy, average hourly rates, average transactionamounts, average duration, transaction amounts per discrete durationlengths, revenue per available space (RevPAS), RevPAS per hour, andtotal revenue for each garage, and across any grouping of garages withina garage company. Data can be trended across hours, days, weeks, months,years, and filtered by specific dayparts (i.e. 9 a-5 p only) and days ofthe week (i.e. weekdays only).

The GarageMate Pro system allows management to leverage the businessintelligence contained herein to make dynamic strategy adjustmentsacross multiple garages simultaneously, driving rate where demand ishigh and volume where demand stimulation is needed. Users view theresults of those strategic actions in real-time in the application.

With parking locations across garage companies in our ecosystem,GarageMate Pro will allow garage management to create a competitive set(“compset”) for each of their garages, to which their “subject” garageperformance can be compared. Indexes for the subject garage against thecompset garages will be provided for occupancy, average hourly rate,revPAS, revPAS per hour, to help assess relative performance acrossvarious periods of time. Compsets will be aggregations of a minimumnumber of competitive garages such that no individual competitivegarage's performance can be unmasked.

The GarageMate Pro business intelligence and related tools and reportsare enabled by an underlying comprehensive data base system that storesall data associated with each individual parking transaction for eachgarage that is part of the ParcMate network (whether a ParcMate user ornot), along with key garage and user details, that can be queriedagainst and aggregated to generate the analytics mentioned herein.GarageMate Pro data can be fed directly from GarageMate in real time orperiodically, and/or from periodic uploads from other garagepoint-of-sale systems.

GarageMate Pro can be the source of record for all garage pricing, tofacilitate implementation of strategies. From a central location,pricing can be set and changed for each garage location within a garagecompany. For each garage, management can create within this platformtheir standard rate card, eligible discounted rates for broad or defineduser groups across any time period, and special rates. Any rate otherthan those on the standard rate card can be set as a flat rate, adiscount percentage off of the standard rate card or a dollar amount offthe standard rate card. Rates can be set for a single garage or appliedto multiple garages simultaneously. Pricing changes made here areimmediately visible in both GarageMate (for garage attendants) and inParcMate (for consumer application users).

The invention further allows for unique discount promotional rate codesto be associated with rates available only to specific user groups(employees of a specific business, residents of a specific building,diners at a specific restaurant, etc.). These promotional rate codes,when entered into ParcMate user registration screen, ParcMatereservation screen, GarageMate check-in screen, will automatically findthe applicable rate in the GarageMate Pro system associated with thatcode, compare the eligible discount rate to the lowest generallyavailable rate, and apply the lowest of the two to the reservation.

For monthly parkers, GarageMate Pro can store various monthly parkingrate tiers, and other custom monthly rate amounts, for each garage. Eachmonthly rate has a single associated monthly rate code which can beassociated with any number of vehicles, such that any driver using oneof those vehicles as a ParcMate user or a non-ParcMate user is notcharged a rate for each transaction within their home garage, being a“monthly parker.” The monthly rate code enables a garage industrypricing standard whereby transactions at the “home garage” are notcharged (as they are part of the monthly billed amount), but whenvisiting any other garage within the garage company, that code resultsin an automatic percentage discount (set by garage company) to thelowest applicable standard rate for those non-home garage parkingtransactions. The system will also execute billing of monthly parkingamounts and enable multiple users to be covered under one monthly ratefor each shared vehicle.

GarageMate Pro will facilitate billing of monthly rates. Any vehicleassociated with a monthly rate will be billed that monthly amount, onthe designated monthly billing date (with prorating logic for stubmonths).

GarageMate Pro is also the source of record for garage capacityconfiguration, via an easy “garage spot builder” tool. Management can“build” each garage, with spot numbering and naming conventions uniqueto each garage.

GarageMate Pro is further the source of record for garage spotassignment methodology, via an easy “garage spot assigner” tool.Management can indicate assignment methodology based on parker arrivaltime, departure time and duration unique to each garage, such that spotsare automatically and optimally assigned when ParcMate users make areservation at a garage or any walk-in arrives at a garage.

GarageMate Pro will allow garages to offer targeted discount rates basedon a ParcMate user's specific geographic search that is beyond aspecific garage's immediate area. The system will dynamically calculatea cheaper rate for this “further but cheaper” garage that is below the“cheapest” rate returned in the ParcMate user's geographic search.Garages will have to pay a listing fee to be added to the user's searchresults in this way.

With reference to FIG. 14, rather than the curated selection of garagesdescribed with above, the user can designate a series of favorites, suchas ancillary services offered, such as able to change oil, wash the car,elevator to street level, and the like and the select a garage 7.5 basedon the designated favorites.

In self-park facilities with gated or attendant controlled entry/exit,ParcMate users can scan their QR or barcode for entry and exit viaGarageMate scanners at the entry and exit points (self-serve or via anyattendant on premises), with final amount due charged automatically to acredit card stored in the user profile. ParcMate users can alternativelybe charged using any other suitable garage point-of-sale system.

Alternatively, ParcMate will leverage existing Smartphone “touch toopen” technology to allow ParcMate users to touch their phone across asensor to open gates at gated facilities upon arrival, at which time theparking duration starts counting and parking costs accrue based onstored information and logic in the ParcMate system. Upon departure, thesame “touch to open” technology can be leveraged to open the exit gate,end the parking stay and the parking cost accrual. ParcMate can keeptrack of current parking costs throughout the stay and display thisinformation to the user, along with any upcoming rate changes, as welldisplay final parking costs and execute payment via a credit cardprocessor. This information may transmit via an API to GarageMate orother suitable garage point-of-sale system.

In the event the user does not check-in to the gated facility with theapplication, the user can scan the garage-issued parking ticket/claimcheck into the application, to view in real time what the current costof parking is, as well as any possible upcoming rate changes throughtime, synthesizing all rates/specials/coupons to show the lowestapplicable rate for any particular time period. They will also be ableto check-out and pay via the application.

For open lot configurations with numbered spaces, ParcMate will useBeacon technology installed at entry/exit points to identify that theuser is at a particular lot location. The user can enter his spacenumber in the ParcMate application and “check-in”, at which time theparking duration starts counting and parking costs accrue based onstored information and logic in the ParcMate system. For lots thatrequire a specific duration to be pre-paid, the user can select theduration required and that amount will be charged to the credit cardstored in the user profile. For lots that allow the user/driver to payparking costs on departure, ParcMate can keep track of current parkingcosts throughout the stay and display this information to the user,along with any upcoming rate changes, as well display final parkingcosts and execute payment via a credit card processor.

Alternatively, for open lots without specifically numbered spots andrequiring prepayment, ParcMate can transmit the user's automobile make,model and license plate to the parking authority in real time, alongwith amount paid and paid duration, to authenticate the parking stay forthat vehicle, and to determine if/when that vehicle can be ticketed foroverstaying the paid duration.

For meter parking, on- or off-street, ParcMate users will be able toenter or scan an identifier for the specific meter into the ParcMateapplication that contains all relevant pricing information, select aparking duration and have the amount charged automatically to a creditcard stored in the user profile. ParcMate user can extend their time onthe meter remotely from any location via the ParcMate application. Metermonitoring individuals/agencies will receive information on currentlyoccupied and recently expired parking stays at meters for meter paymentenforcement.

For all parking lot/garage configurations (attended facilities, gatedfacilities, open lots) and on- or off-street metered parking, ParcMatecan notify the user of an upcoming parking duration expiration, at a setnumber of minutes prior to that expiration as designated by the user viaa setting in their profile or determined for that specific stay. If theparking stay required prepayment, the user can extend their parkingduration via their ParcMate application on their smartphone, for aspecific amount of time, based on stored parking rate information, rulesand calculations in the ParcMate system for the specific location, dateand time.

Other GarageMate and GarageMate Pro features described previously can bemade available for self-park facilities with gated or attendantcontrolled entry/exit, and parking entities controlling meter parking,on- or off-street.

One or more embodiments of the present invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A parking management system, comprising: adatabase in communication with a digital communication network, thedatabase configured to receive and store occupancy data associated witha plurality of parking sectors being associated with a plurality ofparking garages having a different global positioning identifier fromeach other; a digital computer system in data communications with thedatabase, the digital computer system being configured to dynamicallytrack an occupancy level of each of said parking sectors based on theoccupancy data and an anticipated departure time of vehicles occupyingsaid parking spaces; said digital computer system being configured toreceive a data request representative of an arrival time and occupancyparking duration from a mobile device of a user based on a dynamicglobal position location of the mobile device, to receive datarepresentative of the dynamic global position location and responsive tothe data request, the digital computer system being configured todetermine available parking sectors within a predetermined geographicradius based on the dynamic global position location of the mobiledevice, including the global positioning identifiers of the parkinggarages, and direct vehicles to a particular parking sector based onsaid anticipated departure time, including the predetermined geographicradius; and wherein the digital computer system is configured to executea computer curation sequence: to curate the particular parking sectorfor the vehicle based on assigning at least two parking garages eachhaving tied closest distances using the dynamic global position locationof the mobile device, for calculating a closest distance garagesubgroup; and for enabling selection of the particular parking sectorwithin the closest distance garage subgroup based on a lowest estimatedparking cost derived from the parking rate data; and to curate theparticular parking sector for the vehicle based on assigning at leasttwo parking garages each having tied lowest estimated parking costderived from the parking rate data for calculating a lowest cost garagesubgroup and for enabling selection of the particular parking sectorwithin the lowest cost garage subgroup based on a garage closestdistance using the dynamic global position location of the mobiledevice.
 2. The parking management system of claim 1, wherein the digitalcomputer system is configured to transmit data from a detector, thedetector being configured to identify vehicles entering or leaving aparking garage associated with a selected parking sector.
 3. The parkinggarage management system of claim 2, wherein the detector is a beacondevice configured to transmit a data packet to the mobile device of theuser, the data packet including the global positioning identifier of theparking garage proximate to the mobile device, the digital computersystem being further configured to transmit a data prompt, via thebeacon device, to the mobile device to initiate a check-in sequence. 4.The parking management system of claim 3, wherein the digital computersystem is configured to capture and store an identifier for theidentified vehicle and transmit the identifier to the database and thedatabase including a plurality of records of stored vehicle information.5. The parking management system of claim 4, wherein the digitalcomputer system is configured, upon initiation of the check-in sequence,stored vehicle information associated with the identified vehicle isretrieved and transmitted to a network server.
 6. The parking managementsystem of claim 2, wherein the digital computer system is furtherconfigured to estimate a cost of stay for the identified vehicle, theestimate based on consideration of multiple parking rates and rate rulesincluding an applicable coupon rate or rule for the identified vehicle,based on an at least one of an estimated parking arrival time, departuretime, car type, and demand-based rate rule of a garage and communicatethe lowest applicable rate for the vehicle.
 7. The parking managementsystem of claim 6, wherein while the vehicle is parked in the garage,the digital computer system is configured to transmit to the mobiledevice of the user, in real-time, a current cost of parking and upcomingrate changes for an estimated vehicle parking time, and furthertransmits the lowest applicable rate for the estimated vehicle parkingtime.
 8. A parking management system, comprising: a database incommunication with a digital communication network, the databaseconfigured to receive and store occupancy data associated with aplurality of parking sectors being associated with a plurality ofparking garages having a different global positioning identifier fromeach other; a digital computer system in data communications with thedatabase, the digital computer system being configured to dynamicallytrack an occupancy level of each of said parking sectors based on theoccupancy data and an anticipated departure time of vehicles occupyingsaid parking spaces; said digital computer system being configured toreceive a data request representative of an arrival time and occupancyparking duration from a mobile device of a user based on a dynamicglobal position location of the mobile device, to receive datarepresentative of the dynamic global position location and responsive tothe data request, the digital computer system being configured todetermine available parking sectors within a predetermined geographicradius based on the dynamic global position location of the mobiledevice, including the global positioning identifiers of the parkinggarages, and direct vehicles to a particular parking sector based onsaid anticipated departure time, including the predetermined geographicradius; and wherein the digital computer system is configured to executea computer curation sequence: to curate the particular parking sectorfor the vehicle based on assigning at least two parking garages eachhaving tied closest distances using the dynamic global position locationof the mobile device, for calculating a closest distance garagesubgroup; and for enabling selection of the particular parking sectorwithin the closest distance garage subgroup based on a lowest estimatedparking cost derived from the parking rate data.
 9. The parkingmanagement system of claim 8, wherein the digital computer system isconfigured to transmit data from a detector, the detector beingconfigured to identify vehicles entering or leaving a parking garageassociated with a selected parking sector.
 10. The parking managementsystem of claim 9, wherein the detector is a beacon device configured totransmit a data packet to the mobile device of the user, the data packetincluding the global positioning identifier of the parking garageproximate to the mobile device, the digital computer system beingfurther configured to transmit a data prompt, via the beacon device, tothe mobile device to initiate a check-in sequence.
 11. The parkingmanagement system of claim 10, wherein the digital computer system isconfigured to capture and store an identifier for the identified vehicleand transmit the identifier to the database and the database including aplurality of records of stored vehicle information.
 12. The parkingmanagement system of claim 11, wherein the digital computer system isconfigured, upon initiation of the check-in sequence, stored vehicleinformation associated with the identified vehicle is retrieved andtransmitted to a network server.
 13. The parking management system ofclaim 9, wherein the digital computer system is further configured toestimate a cost of stay for the identified vehicle, the estimate basedon consideration of multiple parking rates and rate rules including anapplicable coupon rate or rule for the identified vehicle, based on anat least one of an estimated parking arrival time, departure time, cartype, and demand-based rate rule of a garage and communicate the lowestapplicable rate for the vehicle.
 14. The parking management system ofclaim 11, wherein while the vehicle is parked in the garage, the digitalcomputer system is configured to transmit to the mobile device of theuser, in real-time, a current cost of parking and upcoming rate changesfor an estimated vehicle parking time, and further transmits the lowestapplicable rate for the estimated vehicle parking time.
 15. A parkingmanagement system, comprising: a database in communication with adigital communication network, the database configured to receive andstore occupancy data associated with a plurality of parking sectorsbeing associated with a plurality of parking garages having a differentglobal positioning identifier from each other; a digital computer systemin data communications with the database, the digital computer systembeing configured to dynamically track an occupancy level of each of saidparking sectors based on the occupancy data and an anticipated departuretime of vehicles occupying said parking spaces; said digital computersystem being configured to receive a data request representative of anarrival time and occupancy parking duration from a mobile device of auser based on a dynamic global position location of the mobile device,to receive data representative of the dynamic global position locationand responsive to the data request, the digital computer system beingconfigured to determine available parking sectors within a predeterminedgeographic radius based on the dynamic global position location of themobile device, including the global positioning identifiers of theparking garages, and direct vehicles to a particular parking sectorbased on said anticipated departure time, including the predeterminedgeographic radius; and wherein the digital computer system is configuredto execute a computer curation sequence: to curate the particularparking sector for the vehicle based on assigning at least two parkinggarages each having tied lowest estimated parking cost derived from theparking rate data for calculating a lowest cost garage subgroup and forenabling selection of the particular parking sector within the lowestcost garage subgroup based on a garage closest distance using thedynamic global position location of the mobile device.
 16. The parkingmanagement system of claim 15, wherein the digital computer system isconfigured to transmit data from a detector, the detector beingconfigured to identify vehicles entering or leaving a parking garageassociated with a selected parking sector.
 17. The parking managementsystem of claim 16, wherein the detector is a beacon device configuredto transmit a data packet to the mobile device of the user, the datapacket including the global positioning identifier of the parking garageproximate to the mobile device, the digital computer system beingfurther configured to transmit a data prompt, via the beacon device, tothe mobile device to initiate a check-in sequence.
 18. The parkingmanagement system of claim 17, wherein the digital computer system isconfigured to capture and store an identifier for the identified vehicleand transmit the identifier to the database and the database including aplurality of records of stored vehicle information.
 19. The parkingmanagement system of claim 16, wherein the digital computer system isconfigured, upon initiation of the check-in sequence, stored vehicleinformation associated with the identified vehicle is retrieved andtransmitted to a network server.
 20. The parking management system ofclaim 16, wherein the digital computer system is further configured toestimate a cost of stay for the identified vehicle, the estimate basedon consideration of multiple parking rates and rate rules including anapplicable coupon rate or rule for the identified vehicle, based on anat least one of an estimated parking arrival time, departure time, cartype, and demand-based rate rule of a garage and communicate the lowestapplicable rate for the vehicle.